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Supervisor accused of lewdness
Ronald Castle Sr., a 30-year Onondaga County employee, was arraigned Wednesday.
Thursday, January 24, 2002
By Sue Weibezahl
A supervisor with the Onondaga County Department of Social Services was charged Tuesday with lewdness, said Sgt. John D'Eredita of the county Sheriff's Department.
County officials confirmed the arrest Wednesday and said Ronald Castle Sr., 54, of 123 Lamson St., Apt. 7-A, Syracuse, has been indefinitely suspended without pay.
"This is a matter that's currently under investigation by the sheriff's department and the district attorney's office," said County Attorney Larry Williams, who would not answer specific questions about the case. "But obviously, it's being taken very seriously."
Deputies said Castle, who has been a county employee for more than 30 years, had been masturbating into the coffee cups of co-workers. He likely will be suspended at least through the case going to trial, said county spokesman Martin Farrell.
Castle was charged with three counts of second-degree harassment, three counts of criminal nuisance and three counts of public lewdness, D'Eredita said, "but the investigation is continuing."
Castle was arraigned Wednesday before City Judge Thomas Higgins Jr. He was released on his own recognizance and the case was adjourned to Friday.
County health officials said they plan to offer medical testing to the co-workers involved and D'Eredita said the court will require Castle to be tested for communicable diseases.
In a three-page statement, Castle admitted tampering with the telephones and coffee mugs of at least six women employees in the Civic Center for a period beginning before Christmas 1999.
DSS Commissioner David Sutkowy said department workers had been upset by the news.
"I was shocked, distressed and certainly saddened for the victims," he said. The county's personnel office "is in contact with everyone involved and will provide whatever services are needed, including counseling."
Castle is one of about 20 DSS income maintenance supervisors, whose job responsibilities included authorizing the distribution of welfare and cash assistance benefits, reviewing other employees' work performance, intervening in cases of client complaints and training new employees, Sutkowy said.
His salary was about $41,100 a year.
Jim O'Hara contributed to this report.
Supervisor accused of lewdness
Ronald Castle Sr., a 30-year Onondaga County employee, was arraigned Wednesday.
Thursday, January 24, 2002
By Sue Weibezahl
A supervisor with the Onondaga County Department of Social Services was charged Tuesday with lewdness, said Sgt. John D'Eredita of the county Sheriff's Department.
County officials confirmed the arrest Wednesday and said Ronald Castle Sr., 54, of 123 Lamson St., Apt. 7-A, Syracuse, has been indefinitely suspended without pay.
"This is a matter that's currently under investigation by the sheriff's department and the district attorney's office," said County Attorney Larry Williams, who would not answer specific questions about the case. "But obviously, it's being taken very seriously."
Deputies said Castle, who has been a county employee for more than 30 years, had been masturbating into the coffee cups of co-workers. He likely will be suspended at least through the case going to trial, said county spokesman Martin Farrell.
Castle was charged with three counts of second-degree harassment, three counts of criminal nuisance and three counts of public lewdness, D'Eredita said, "but the investigation is continuing."
Castle was arraigned Wednesday before City Judge Thomas Higgins Jr. He was released on his own recognizance and the case was adjourned to Friday.
County health officials said they plan to offer medical testing to the co-workers involved and D'Eredita said the court will require Castle to be tested for communicable diseases.
In a three-page statement, Castle admitted tampering with the telephones and coffee mugs of at least six women employees in the Civic Center for a period beginning before Christmas 1999.
DSS Commissioner David Sutkowy said department workers had been upset by the news.
"I was shocked, distressed and certainly saddened for the victims," he said. The county's personnel office "is in contact with everyone involved and will provide whatever services are needed, including counseling."
Castle is one of about 20 DSS income maintenance supervisors, whose job responsibilities included authorizing the distribution of welfare and cash assistance benefits, reviewing other employees' work performance, intervening in cases of client complaints and training new employees, Sutkowy said.
His salary was about $41,100 a year.
Jim O'Hara contributed to this report.